Toy package



June 16, 1959 J. E. GIBSON, JR

TOY PACKAGE Filed July 14, 1958 INVENTOR JAMES E. GIBSON, JR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent flice 2,890,790 Patented June 16, 1 959 2,890,790 TOY PACKAGE James E. Gibson, -Jr., High Point, NC. Application July 14, 1958, Serial No. 748,274

7 Claims. or 206- 47) This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to a package for a toy of the type utilizing a paddle having a resilient wall attached thereto by an elastic strand. I I

Toys of the nature disclosed in connection withthis invention have been utilized for many years and these toys have heretofore been packaged in various ways, including a bag or envelope for containing the paddle and ball, but such a package is relatively bulky and difficult to manufacture, as well as relatively costly.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a simple package for retaining a ball'in assembled relationship with apaddle to provide a unitary package.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a toy package in which a relatively narrow strip of material embraces the handle port-ion of a paddle and is provided with means for retaining a ball with relation thereto.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a toy package for a paddle and resilient ball secured to such paddle by an elastic strand and in which the ball and strand are retained in relation to the paddle to provide a unitary package.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a toy package for a paddle and ball attached thereto by an elastic strand, such package being provided by a single strip of material surrounding the handle portion of the package and having means for retaining the ball with relation thereto to provide a unitary package.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a toy package for a paddle and ball, such package comprising a single strip of material surrounding the handle portion of the paddle and having means for retaining the playing ball as well as a spare ball in place to provide a unitary package.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is an elevational view of a toy package constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 a fragmentary elevational view with parts in section for greater clarity and showing the manner in which the elastic strand is wound around the handle portion of the paddle to assist in maintaining the ball in position in the package;

Fig. 3 a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 an elevational view of a modified form of the invention and showing the structure utilized for retaining the regular playing ball, as well as a spare ball in place to provide a unitary package; and

Fig. 5 a sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

With continued reference to the drawing and particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a toy package constructed in accordance with this invention and which may well comprise a paddle having an enlarged impact portion 11 and an elongated handle portion 12. A strand of elastic material 13 is secured at one end 14 to 2 the central portion of the impact portion lj l j means of a staple 15 or other suitable fastening means and the opposite end 16 of the strand 13 is secured to a resilient ball 17 in any suitable manner. It to be noted, that the intermediate portion 18 of the elasticstrand 13 is wrapped around the handle portion 12 of the paddle 10 as best shown in Fig, 3. I V k A ball retainer 19 inthe form of a singlestrip of cardboard or other suitable material is folded to provide 'space'd sidewalls 20 and 21 and a, pair of aligned apertures 22 and23 areprovided in the walls 20 and 211espectively. The apertures 22 jand,23 are of less diameter than the diameter of the ball 17. The retainer 19 is received on the handle portion 12 in a manner to embrace the same and with the apertures 22 2'3 disposed at one side of the handle por'tio'n'1 2' of the paddle 10. As bestisho wn in ,Fig. 2, portions 24 and'25 of the ball 17 project through the apertures 22 and'23 respectively to hold the 1 211117 in place and the wan zo and 21 of the retainer 1 9 are secured tdgetlier by staples 26 or other suitable means at theopposite side of the handle portion 12 fromthe'ap'e rtursifl 'and 23. h p I v v It will, therefore, be seientha't tli'e retainer 19, together with the wrappeda'r'ound ortion 18'of the elastic strand 13 operates to retaiiithe ball 17 in'posit'ion onthepaddle 10 to provide a unitary package.

With particular reference to Figs; {and 5, m re is shown a: slightly modifiedform'o'f the irive'ntion'in which there is provided a paddle 27 having aninipaet portion 23 and a hanmepqrtidn'w there beingan lasti 'sa'aad 30hav'ing an end 31 secured 'tbtlieiiriiiatit portion 28 of the paddle 27 by a staple or other suitable fastening means 32. The opposite end 33 of the elastic strand 30 is secured to a resilient ball 34 in any suitable manner. The intermediate portion 35 of the resilient strand 30 is wrapped around the handle portion 29 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and in a manner similar to that described above in connection with the first form of the invention.

A ball retainer 36 of cardboard or other suitable material is folded to provide spaced sidewalls 37 and 38 and provided in such sidewalls are two pairs of apertures 39 and 40 disposed on one side of the handle portion 29 of the paddle 27 and other apertures 41 and 42 disposed on the opposite side of the handle portion 29 of the paddle 27.

The apertures 39 and 40, as well as the apertures 41 and 42 are of a diameter less than the diameter of the ball 34 and a spare ball 43. From an inspection of Fig. 5, it will be obvious that the apertures 39 and 40 are disposed on one side of the handle portion 29 of the paddle 27, while the other apertures 41 and 42 are disposed on the opposite side and portions 44 and 45 of the ball 34 will project through the apertures 41 and 42 respectively to hold the ball 34 in place while portions 46 and 47 of the spare ball 43 will project through apertures 39 and 40 to hold the ball 43 in place. It is also to be noted, that an elastic strand 48 is wrapped around the spare ball 43 and this strand 48 will be utilized to attach the ball 43 to the impact portion 28 of the paddle 27 in the event the playing ball 45 is lost or otherwise rendered unfit for use.

The walls 37 and 38 of the retainer 36 are secured together by staples 49 or other suitable fastening means and also the wall 37 of the retainer 36 may be removably secured to the handle portion 29 of the paddle 27 by a. staple or other suitable fastening means 50.

It will thus be seen, that by this form of the invention there has been provided a relatively simple, yet highly efiective means for retaining the playing ball as well as a spare ball on a handle portion of the paddle to provide a unitary package.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited to that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy package comprising a paddle having an enlarged impact portion and an elongated handle portion, a strand of elastic material having one end secured to said impact portion adjacent the center and the opposite end secured to a resilient ball, the intermediate portion of said strand being wrapped around said handle portion and aball retainer comprising a strip of material folded to provide spaced walls, a pair of aligned apertures in said .walls, said apertures being of less diameter than the diameter of said ball, said retainer being received on said handle portion with said apertures disposed at one side of said handle portion and with a portion of said ball projecting through each aperture, said walls being secured together on the opposite side of said handle portion to retain said ball in place and provide a unitary package.

2. A toy package comprising a paddle having an enlarged impact portion and an elongated handle portion, a strand of elastic material having one end secured to said impact portion and the opposite end secured to a resilient ball, the intermediate portion of said strand being wrapped around said handle portion and a ball re tainer comprising a strip of material folded to provide spaced walls, a pair of aligned apertures in said walls, said apertures being of less diameter than the diameter of said ball, said retainer being received on said handle portion with said apertures disposed at one side of said handle portion and with a portion of said ball projecting through each aperture, said walls being secured together 4 on the opposite side of said handle portion to retain said ball in place and provide a unitary package.

3. A toy package as defined in claim 2 in which said walls are provided with a second pair of aligned apertures, said second apertures being disposed on the opposite side of said handle portion from the first apertures and a spare ball and resilient strand having portions projecting through said second apertures to retain said spare ball in place on the opposite side of said handle portion.

4. A toy package as defined in claim 3 in which one of said walls is secured to said handle portion by removable fastening means.

5. A toy package as defined in claim 2 in which one of said walls is secured to said handle portion by removable fastening means.

6. A toy package comprising a paddle having an enlarged impact portion and an elongated handle portion, a strand of elastic material having one end secured to said impact portion and the opposite end secured to a resilient ball, the intermediate portion of said strand being wrapped around said handle portion and a ball retainer comprising a strip of material folded to provide spaced walls, said retainer being received on said handle portion and means on said walls for retaining a ball in place on one side of said handle portion, said walls being secured together on the opposite side of said handle portion to retain said ball in place and provide a unitary package.

7. A toy package as defined in claim 6 in which said walls are provided with additional means for retaining a spare ball in position on the opposite side of said handle portion to provide a unitary package.

No references cited. 

